On the field, the Rochester Lancers were losers on Thursday night. dropping a 14-12 match to the defending MISL champion Milwaukee Wave. Here’s our write-up by colleague Sean Kavanaugh. But off the field, the Lancers and their fans were winners. Their annual “pass the boot,” (a firefighter’s boot) campaign raised more than $3,500 to benefit the families of the two men who were killed in the Christmas Eve shooting in Webster. Some West Webster Firefighters and their families were at the game, where an announced crowd of 5,203 saw the Lancers fall to 5-6 and into a tie with Missouri for the fourth and final playoff spot. Of course, we aren’t even to the halfway point of the season. All Lancers promotions during Thursday’s match also raised money for the cause and funds from the Lancers halftime ball toss and halftime kicks went directly to the WWFD. In remembrance of the victims, all players from both teams wore black arm bands for the game. Each team’s coaching staff, ownership group, and front office staff wore black ribbons. “The support of the community is overwhelming,” Kevin Crouch, Public Information Officer for the WWFD, said in a statement released by the soccer team. “Words cannot express what we’re experiencing from the community.” He said to provide help, people can visit any ESL branch to donate in the names of Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka.

West Webster Fire Department members and Lancer Louie at Thursday's match.

FORMER SPENCERPORT COACH GETS AWARD: Acknowledging his years of service to soccer and achievements as a coach, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America is inducting Ron Broadbent to the NSCAA Hall of Fame. The induction will be Jan. 18 during the NSCAA banquet in Indianapolis. Broadbent was the boys coach at Spencerport High for 21 years (1959-80), compiling a 235-83-47 overall record and winning seven consecutive Section V titles (1970-1976). Following that, he served as SUNY Brockport head coach (1981-83). He also was the Section V soccer chairperson and held several positions for the NSCAA. A member of the Board of Directors from 1977-92, including the Convention program chair (1980-84), Broadbent was NSCAA president in 1992. He was the NSCAA’s High School Coach of the Year (1980), earned an NSCAA Letter of Commendation (1997) and the Robert W. Robinson Award (2000). He was inducted into Spencerport’s, the NYSPHSAA’s and Section V Hall of Fame.

Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
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